Support and brace therefor



7- 0. FETTERMAN 2,426,443

SUPPORT AND BRAQE THEREFOR Filed Jan. 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

OJcar Z. Feii'i'r-map g BY? 2 lVf/GRNEY Aug. 26, 1947.' o. B. FETTERMAN' SUPPORT AND BRACE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1945 INVENTOR. I .Efiermah Patented Aug. 26, 1947 UNITED srAr s PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT AND BRACE THEREFOR Oscar B. Fetterman, Washington, D. 0. Application January 1'7, 1945, Serial No. 573,184

2 Claims. (Cl. 47-47) The present invention relates to improvements in supports and has reference more particularly to that type of support whose lower end is adapted to be driven into the ground.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a support having a brace associated therewith that also is adapted to be driven into the ground, said brace securely holding the support against swinging movement and also socuring the support against casual displacement from the ground.

A further object is to provide a support having an angularly shaped brace associated with its lower end so that the lower end of the support as well as .the ground penetrating leg of the brace member can be driven into the ground simultaneously.

.A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a supporting standard whose lower end is adapted to be driven into the ground, an onset brace being integrally associated with the lower end of the standard, the brace including a downwardly extending leg that is also adapted to be driven into the ground, a driving head being provided at the top of the brace.

A further object is to provide a supporting standard and brace therefor that is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and at all times positive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which the same is adapted.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and in which like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is aside elevation showing my invention utilized as a plant stake, and showing the lower end of the standard as well as the major portion of the integral brace embedded in the ground;

Figure 2 shows the device as used for supporting a beetle trap, lantern or the like;

Figure 3 discloses my improved device as a standard to support a suspended rope or wire fence strand;

Figure 4 shows a device similar to that illustrated in Figure 3, the standard being materially shorter in height and adapted to be used as an animal hitching post;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the invention,

utilized as a support for a sign;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a fence post embodying my novel support and brace;

Figure 9 is a front view of a pair of fence posts embodying the present invention, and

Figure 10 is a modification of the brace as associated with the lower end of a supporting standard.

In the drawings, with reference more particularly to Figure 1, there is illustrated my improved device as utilized for supporting a growing plant A. The support comprises a vertical standard 2 formed of steel or other suitable metal and being of any desirable gauge.

The sharply pointed lower end 3 of the rod is adapted to be driven into the ground adjacent the stem or steins of the plant A.

Extending upwardly from this lower end 3 and formed integrally'therewith is the obliquely disposed arm 4 of an inverted V-shaped brace 5 which forms a salient part of the present invention.

A leg 6 extends downwardly from the upper end of the obliquely disposed arm and terminates in a sharpened ground penetrating point I. This leg portion 5 is disposed substantially parallel to the lower portion of the standard 2 and further, this leg has its pointed lower end extending a distance below the lower extremity of the standand 2, as is clearly shown in Figure 1 of "the drawings.

A flat impact receiving head 8 is formed at the top of the juncture of the arm and leg portions of the inverted V-shaped brace. This head provides a means whereby a suitable tool may be employed for driving the lower end of the standard as well as the major portion of the brace simultaneously intot he ground.

When the support and brace therefor are in proper embedded position this supporting standard will be supported erect and the brace will hold the standard against rotation or swinging movement and otherwise anchoring the standard against casual disengagement from the ground.

A suitable clip 9 is mounted on the standard 2 and embraces the stem of the growin plant A for holding the plant erect.

A plant stake of the character embodying my invention will prevent twisting about due to pressure and weight of growing plants.

' Due" to the particular brace construction, the plant stake cannot be removed merely by pulling upwardly on the stake by hand. A suitable tool such as crowbar must be inserted into the crotch portion between the arm and leg portion of the brace and an upward pressure exerted in order to remove the stake from the ground.

In Figure 2, the device is identical in construction as that shown in Figure 1 and described in detail above, except that in the instant design, the upper end of the standard is formed with a laterally extending curved arm I0, which acts as a means from which an article such as a beetle trap, lantern or the like may be supported in a suspended position.

In Figure 3, a further modification is shown wherein the upper end of the supporting standard 2 is formed with an eye H through which a wire rope or fence strand is adapted to extend. Otherwise, the support and brace is the same as that heretofore described.

With reference now to Figure 4, there is shown my invention as utilized as a ground embedded animal tie, the same being exactly in construction as the device illustrated in Figure 3, with the exception that in the instant device the standard is much shorter, so that the attaching eye I2 is located close to the ground.

Attention is now directed to Figures to 7, inclusive, where my device is employed for supporting a sign. In this respect, the sign plate i3 is secured on the relatively short standard l4 by suitable clamps l5. Otherwise, the supporting standard and brac are identical in construction and manner of use, as that shown in the previous figures of the drawings and described in detail hereinbefore.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, I have i1- lustrated the novel support and brace as being incorporated in a fence post.

A vertically disposed channeled metal fence post 16 is provided at spaced intervals with the conventional clips I? for receiving and supporting the strands of a wire fence in the usual manner.

The lower end E8 of the standard or fence post i6 is adapted to be driven into the ground and associated with this lower end portion of the standard is an inverted V-shaped brace identical in construction as the inverted V-shaped braces already described.

In Figure 10, a slight modification of brace design is illustrated. In this particular form, the obliquely disposed arm 19 is slightly curved and the portion of the brace that connects this oblique arm I9 and the downwardly extending leg 20 is curved as indicated at 2 I. The top of this curved portion 21 forms the impact receiving head for driving the lower end 22 or the standard 23 and the pointed end 2 of the leg 20 of the brace simultaneously into the ground.

A supporting standard and brace thereof as shown and described herein can be used wherever a vertical supporting standard is driven into the ground and by providing a brace in association with the standard, the latter will be held in an upright rigid position against swaying and swingin movement. Further, the standard and ground penetrating brace cannot be easily removed by hand, it being necessary to employ a suitable tool for disposition beneath the impact receiving head of the brace in order to effect the removal of the standard and brace from the ground.

Preferably, the brace is integrally formed with the lower portion of the standard. However, in some instances it may be desirable to form the brace as a separate unit and in such case, this brace can be either fixedly or detachably connected to the lower end of the supporting standard in any suitable manner.

By forming an impact receiving head at the top portion of the brace, it will not be necessary to drive the supporting standard into the ground by hitting upon the upper end of the standard, thus preventing damage or distortion to the supporting standard.

By disposing the obliquely arranged arm of the inverted V-shaped brace at the proper angle, this will assure the simultaneous penetration of the lower end of the standard and the lower end of the leg member of the brace into the ground when force is applied to the impact receivin head of the brace.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a support and brace therefor that can be readily and easily set up for use and when driven into the ground will at all times be positive and efiicient in carrying out the purpose for which it has been designed.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a support, a standard having a sharply pointed lower end adapted to be driven into the ground, an arm extending obliquely upwardly from the pointed lower end of the standard, a ground penetrating le having a sharply pointed lower end extending downwardly from the upper end of said arm, said arm and leg forming a brace for the lower end of the standard, the juncture of the arm with the ground penetrating leg forming an impact receiving head, the ground penetrating leg being disposed substantially parallel with the lower end of the standard and extending below the lower extremity of the lower end of said standard.

2. In a plant stake, a straight standard having a sharply pointed lower end extending into the ground, an arm extending upwardly and obliquely from the lower pointed end of the standard, a ground penetrating leg having a sharply pointed lower end extending downwardly from the upper end of said angular arm and disposed in parallel spaced relation to said standard, the juncture of the arm with the ground penetrating leg forming an impact-receiving head, the lower end of the penetrating leg extending below the lower extremity of the standard, and plant supporting means mounted on the standard,

OSCAR B. FETTERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 812,942 Lund Feb. 20, 1906 2,248,860 Fetterman July 8, 1941 1,007,564 Hardie Oct. 31, 1911 1,176,983 Phillips Mar. 28, 1916 192,520 Hedges Feb. 28, 1893 542,908 Van Wert July 16, 1895 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 37,072 Germany Oct. 19, 1886 

